A local Senator has raised concerns following the proposed launch of special inclusive classes.
Senator Sarah O'Reilly believes the Department of Education is "trying to give classroom overcrowding a new name".
Speaking in the Seanad this week, she highlighted St. Aidan's school in Cootehill.
According to the Senator, the school has been waiting five years for an extension.
Senator O'Reilly explained that the school only got confirmation that the stage 2B report was completed two months ago.
The Cavan Senator explained what implications this will have for the school.
Senator O'Reilly said: "My office spoke to the principal of St. Aidan's school in Cootehill, County Cavan. The school has been waiting five years for an extension and only got confirmation that the stage 2B report was completed about two months ago. St. Aidan's agreed to adapt one of its mainstream classrooms to create an ASD room.
"In the process, it lost vital space needed for the mainstream school students. What is more ludicrous is that when the school applied for an additional ASD room, the request was denied, but since then it has been asked by the Department to create a second ASD room. How can the Department explain or justify the rationale for refusing additional accommodation only to turn around and ask schools to magically create another classroom?
"Instead of progressing extensions and increasing staff allocations, the Department's approach seems to consist of sending letters to schools telling them to make space where there is none," she added.
